Means for automatically separating liquids from natural gas



(No Model.) I

M. G. REYNOLDS. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATING LIQUIDS PROM NATURAL GAS- No. 548,458. Patented Oct. 22, 1895..

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrce.

MIRON G. REYNOLDS, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLYSEPARATING LlQUlDS FROM NATURAL GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,458, dated October 22, 1895.

Applicatien filed April 4. 1895. Serial No. 544,420. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MIRoN G.REYNoLDs,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Anderson,in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Automatioally Separating Liquids from Natural Gas; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus'embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through double valve E. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of modified form of valve which may be substituted for the double form.

This invention has relation to means for effecting automatically the separation of water and oil from natural gas. In many sections of the gas-producing territory means for effecting such separation are of absolute necessity, since most wells when drawn hard produce more or less water or oil,or both,and water in a line, especially in cold weather, causes a great amount of trouble. It is, in fact, very desirable at all times to free the gas in so far as possible from these liquids.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a device which will meet the growing demand for an efficient, durable, and simple separator.

A further object is to provide a separator of this character that is positively automatic in its operations, the valves thereof being opened and closed by the weight of the Water only, and doing away with all floats or levers to get out of repair.

A further object is to provide a separator all of whose working parts are outside of the main cylinder or pipe and so arranged that all the parts can be repaired or replaced without removing the separator from the line or stopping the flow therein.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a cylinder, which is inserted in the pipe-line for the purpose of catching and retaining the water or oil, or both.

B is the inlet connection for the water and gas from the well, and O the gas-outlet to the line, both ofthese connections being made through the upper cap or head D of the cylinder.

E is a double-valve chamber, which is connected to the lower portion or lower head E of the cylinder by means of a short pipe-section F, which is provided with a gate-valve 0r cut-oft G, which is normally kept open.

H is a double valve which is provided with two seats, one above and one below, the upper valve havinga somewhat larger area than thelower one. The ports through said valveseats are each in communication with the chamber of the cylinder A through the pipesection F and valve-chamber E, and said ports open into a common water-discharge I.

J is a perforated strainer-pipe, which receives the water from the cylinder and conducts it into the pipe F to the valvechamber, its purpose being to protect the valves from sand, gravel, or other hard substances.

K designates a rubber or other flexible diaphragm held at its central portion between upper and lower metal disks 1.; 7a, with a margin around said plate. Said diaphragm is inclosed in a chamber L, across which it extends 7 transversely,its outer marginal portion being securely confined between the two sections of which the chamber shell or casting is composed. The portion of said chamber below the diaphragm is connected with the valvechamber E by a short pipe M, and the portion above the diaphragm is connected with the upper portion of the cylinder A by a pipe M, provided with a gate-valve or cut-oft N. Said pipe M serves to conduct gas to the upper portion of the chamber L.

O is a rod which connects the central portion of the diaphragm with the valve H, and O is a link which connects the diaphragm to a lever P, which aifords means for testing the device when desired. 19 is a stuffing-box for said rod.

R is a removable pl u g in the lower head, by removing which the cylinder can be cleaned.

The operation is as follows: As the water and gas comein at the pipe B, the water, being heavier, falls to the bottom of the cylinder, where it accumulates and flows through the pipe F to the double-valve chamber E, rising also in the pipe M. The upper part of the valve H having a somewhat greater area than the lower part, the downward pressure of the water on this valve exceeds the upward pressure thereon, so that the valve will remain closed until there is a sufficient head or column of water in the cylinder to cause a pressure against the under side of the diaphragm sufficient to more than overcome the pressure of the gas above the diaphragm, which is communicated through the pipe M. Said diaphragm will then be raised by the pressure, which will lift the valve from its seat and permit water to flow out through the discharge I. As soon as a certain amount of water has been discharged and the diaphragm is relieved of the excess of pressure on its under side, the said valve will close. Thus the action becomes entirely automatic, the valve alternately opening and closing with the corresponding alternations in the direction of the excess of pressure.

By closing the two cut-offs Grand N the de vice may be repaired when necessary or any part replaced without removing the separator from the line or losing the use of the well.

I may in some instances employ a single valve working upon a single seat, as shown in Fig. 3, and lifted by the water-pressure acting on the diaphragm. This form of the invention will be used when there is a small volume of Water and the double form when there is a larger volume.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein described means for effecting automatically the separation of liquids from natural gas, comprising a separating pipe or cylinder havingagas andliquidinlet andagas outlet, at one end portion, a water discharge outlet at or near its opposite end, a diaphragm exterior to said cylinder but whose opposite sides are in communication therewith, and a valve controlling said water discharge and attached to said diaphragm, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a separation cylinder having a gas and water inlet, and agas outlet, at its upper portion, and a water discharge near its lower portion, of the double valve arranged to control said discharge and situated exterior to the cylinder, the two parts of said valve being of unequal area, a diaphragm confined in a chamber also exterior to said cylinder but having communication therewith upon opposite sides, and a connection between said diaphragm and valve, substantially as specified.

3. The automatic gas, water, and oil separator having its water discharge controlled by a valve, and a diaphragm attached to said valve and situated in a chamber having communication with the line upon opposite sides of the diaphragm, substantially as specified.

4. The herein described means for effecting automatically the separation of liquids from natural gas, consisting of a vertical separation cylinder into the upper portion of which the gas and liquid are admitted from the well and from which the gas is conducted to line, a screened water discharge pipe at the lower portion of said cylinder, a valve chamber on said pipe, a double valve in said chamber with two seats, one above and one below, a diaphragm chamber exterior to said cylinder and connected at opposite portions with opposite end portions of the cylinder, a diaphragm secured across said chamber, a rod connecting said diaphragm with a testing lever, and cutoff valves, one between said diaphragm and the upper portion of the cylinder, and the other between said valve and the lower portion of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MIRON G. REYNOLDS. Witnesses:

D. C. CHIPMAN, THos. BAGOT. 

